P-180 conclusions?

[Mr. Roboto]

Well, going to be building my new pc this month, and I want to hear your opinions on the Antec P-180. I'm sure there is some old thread on this from when it came out, but I want to hear how it has stood the test of time (since it's over a year old now). Is it still as awesome as it used to be? I know it'is built for silence, but I would imagine it stays nice and cool with all the 120mm fans it has. I'm more interested in it for its cooling abilities. The silence is is just an added plus for when I turn my fans down at night.

So anyways, let's hear it!

[meionm]

Well the case got few improvement since release. Black color looks awesome in my opinion.

Here you can see some improvements http://www.silentpcreview.com/article255-page13.html

[Chixofnix]

hmm can't say i've got anything to complain about... i've had this one since the first week or so they were released... and it's been serving me well... it has been rereleased, and the addition of fan clips to add another airpusher to the top hdd bay is a definite plus... wish i had some.. and a spare 120 to put there...

good luck on your purchase ;)

[hafa]

I've done 3 builds using this case, the latest one last week, and it just keeps getting better. The case is superbly designed in terms of flexability, cooling, and silence. The new fan mount option for the upper drive bay provides a tunnel which can use 2 120mm fans in tandem to drive a phenomenal amount of directed air to your video card(s) and chipset.

I'd say go for it. The P180 is one of the all-time best designed and constructed cases available. You'll not be disappotinted now or in the foreseeable future.

[darksparkz]

Great case. I've built both the silver P180 and the black one. The black one has newer improvements and looks great. 120mm fans cool well. You can switch out the stock Antec Tri-Speed fans with Yate Loons or whatever you wish.

[Mr. Roboto]

Thanks for the responces guys. My only comcern with getting the case is that cooling power will be sacrificed for silence, but i doubt that will happen with all the 120mm fans it has.

[calvin]

A dissenting opinion from a respected review site... in the end they describe the P180 as a "huge dissapointment"

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=6012

It is important to understand some of the drawbacks of the layout to make an informed decision.

[hafa]

A dissenting opinion from a respected review site... in the end they describe the P180 as a "huge dissapointment"

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=6012

It is important to understand some of the drawbacks of the layout to make an informed decision.

A few notes on this review:

1. The review is of the older model case. The case previously featured the "blower" assembly with an 80mm fan. This never worked well. It has since been replaced with the clips which allow a 120mm fan to mount in the upper 3.5" drive bay to create the aforementioned "tunnel". As previously noted, this new system works very well.

2. I've never had problems installing a PSU with the included lower fan. I've used Antec, P&PCC, & Fotrons with no problems. The Tagan they pictured suffered from modular cables which stuck out much further than non-modular . I've also never had a problem with the connectors reaching and usually had more than enough, even when the connector is at the top of the motherboard. Perhaps the reviewer mis-routed the cable.

3. In terms of space, the Antec has a significant amount. Perhaps not quite as much as a Akasa Eclipse or Coolermaster stacker, but keep in mind that this is a super-mid tower, not a full tower; apples and oranges. If 6 3.5" (provided in the new case) and 4 5.5" bays/mounts aren't sufficient, perhaps you should consider the Coolermaster Stacker.

4. Contrary to Antec's recommendation, the reviewer mounted his HDD in the upper, rather than the lower bay. Antec has always warned in their installation instructions that this will inhibit thermal performance and should only be done if there is no space left in the lower bay.

5. The reviewer states "...but there is only space for standard-sized fans, not the ones that ship with the P180, but more on that later" , but never qualifies their statement.

6. The reviewer fails to mention some of the more attractive features such as suspended drive mounts, tool-free intake filter access and drive rails.

7. Perhaps some harbor respect for the reviewer, but if I saw such poor cable management on the part of one of my employees, they'd be subject to a long interview in my office.

It seems to me that the reviewer would also hate the Lian-Li V series for the same reasons, as the overall layout is virtually the same. As for me, I'll continue to use the P180 as the super-mid tower of choice.

[traldan]

How heavy is the P180? I'm thinking of getting one as well, but would prefer it not be extremely heavy as I do transport my computer a reasonable bit.

[hafa]

How heavy is the P180? I'm thinking of getting one as well, but would prefer it not be extremely heavy as I do transport my computer a reasonable bit.

At 16.3kg (http://www.antec.com/specs/P180_spe.html), The P180 is quite heavy. If you move your machine around quite a bit, you might consider an aluminium case such as the P160 which weighs only 7kg.

[Mr. Roboto]

A few notes on this review:

1. The review is of the older model case. The case previously featured the "blower" assembly with an 80mm fan. This never worked well. It has since been replaced with the clips which allow a 120mm fan to mount in the upper 3.5" drive bay to create the aforementioned "tunnel". As previously noted, this new system works very well.

2. I've never had problems installing a PSU with the included lower fan. I've used Antec, P&PCC, & Fotrons with no problems. The Tagan they pictured suffered from modular cables which stuck out much further than non-modular . I've also never had a problem with the connectors reaching and usually had more than enough, even when the connector is at the top of the motherboard. Perhaps the reviewer mis-routed the cable.

3. In terms of space, the Antec has a significant amount. Perhaps not quite as much as a Akasa Eclipse or Coolermaster stacker, but keep in mind that this is a super-mid tower, not a full tower; apples and oranges. If 6 3.5" (provided in the new case) and 4 5.5" bays/mounts aren't sufficient, perhaps you should consider the Coolermaster Stacker.

4. Contrary to Antec's recommendation, the reviewer mounted his HDD in the upper, rather than the lower bay. Antec has always warned in their installation instructions that this will inhibit thermal performance and should only be done if there is no space left in the lower bay.

5. The reviewer states "...but there is only space for standard-sized fans, not the ones that ship with the P180, but more on that later" , but never qualifies their statement.

6. The reviewer fails to mention some of the more attractive features such as suspended drive mounts, tool-free intake filter access and drive rails.

7. Perhaps some harbor respect for the reviewer, but if I saw such poor cable management on the part of one of my employees, they'd be subject to a long interview in my office.

It seems to me that the reviewer would also hate the Lian-Li V series for the same reasons, as the overall layout is virtually the same. As for me, I'll continue to use the P180 as the super-mid tower of choice.

Thanks for raising those points. I mean, there's alot of reviews on this thing, and finding a bad one isn't easy.

I'd love to have a lian li, but i cant find one for a price similar to the p-180 that has all the features. Most have 80mm fans, and not enough external drive bays, since i need 4.

Why does it seem like finding the right case is allways the hardest part of a build? :(

[orion25]

I had to remove the lower 120mm fan with my OCZ 520 SLI. There was no way (that I found) to route the PSU wires so they did not hit the fan. Other than that I love it. I have one of the older models with the contraption that held an 80mm fan over the video cards. I am going to try and get the new mount from antec and if that does not work I will go to work on the case with my dremel.

I have the system in my sig in it along with a newly added 7800GT (SLI!!!!). No problems on temps. It is a little tight on room but I am not a cable management freak by any means. I bought a case without a window for a reason...............

[Shadowknight281]

How heavy is the P180? I'm thinking of getting one as well, but would prefer it not be extremely heavy as I do transport my computer a reasonable bit.
P150 or the Solo (black, no PSU like the P150 has) might be up your alley then. It's also made to be quiet, and is smaller in size and lower in weight than the P180.

[Mr. Roboto]

well, just as a small update, i decided to order the p-180b. Thanks for reassuring me guys.